What Hath TR Wrought?
I don t think that any harm comes from the concentration of power
in one man s hands. Theodore Roosevelt
The notion that Theodore Roosevelt was one of America s greatest
presidents is literally carved in stone right up there on Mount
Rushmore. But as historian Jim Powell shows in the refreshingly
original "Bully Boy," Roosevelt s toothy grin, outsized
personality, colossal energy, and fascinating life story have
obscured what he actually did as president.
And what Roosevelt did severely damaged the United States.
Until now, no historian has thoroughly rebutted the adulation so
widely accorded to TR. Powell digs beneath the surface to expose
the harm Roosevelt did to the country in his own era. More
important, he examines the lasting consequences of Roosevelt s
actions the legacies of big government, expanded presidential
power, and foreign interventionism that plague us today.
"Bully Boy" reveals:
How Roosevelt, the celebrated trust-buster, actually promoted
monopolies
How this self-proclaimed champion of conservation caused untold
environmental destruction
How TR expanded presidential power and brought us big government
How he heralded in the era of government regulation, handicapping
employers, destroying jobs, and harming consumers
How he established the dangerous precedent of pushing America into
other people s wars even when our own national interests aren t at
stake
How this crusader for pure food launched loony campaigns against
margarine, corn syrup, and Coca-Cola
How Roosevelt inspired the campaign to enact a federal income tax
that was supposedly a tax on the rich but became a people s tax
"Bully Boy" is both a groundbreaking look at a pivotal time in
America s history and a powerful explanation of how so many of our
modern troubles began.